Method and Madness Single Grain Spanish Oak Review

In- Depth Review

If you explore Irish whiskey, you cannot escape Midleton Distillery. While the name may not immediately come to mind when thinking Irish whiskey, they are responsible for some of the biggest brands in the industry. Jameson, Redbreast, Powers, Paddy’s, all of the Spot brands, all come from this mega-distillery located in County Cork. But while many of those may be household names across the world, Midleton has created a smaller micro-distillery within its walls to help experiment with the next generation of whiskies. These experimental whiskies are part of the Method and Madness line.

            Method and Madness has just arrived to US shores after being sold exclusively in Europe the last few years. There are currently three offerings: Single Grain, Pot Still, and Single Malt. These all undergo unique finishing treatments that are designed to bring unique flavors and experiences that may not be traditionally associated with Irish Whiskey.

In this case, we will focus on the Single Grain which undergoes the bulk of its maturation in ex-Bourbon barrels and is then finished for 12 months in toasted Virgin Spanish Oak casks from Galicia, in Northwest Spain. The bottle features a beautiful design, using a unique shape and splashes of color to signal this isn’t your traditional Irish whiskey. This is bottled at 46% and is non-chill filtered.

Age: Non-Age Stated

ABV: 46%

Cask: Ex-Bourbon matured and finished Toast Virgin Spanish Oak

MSRP: Around $50

Distillery Name: Midleton

Review Date: 11/17/20

Color: Yellowed mahogany

Nose: Light, sweet, and floral. Fruits come through as you breath in deeper, with pear and red fruits coming to the forefront. Very little alcohol is present on the nose, and I found it hard at times to maintain a strong nose with this one. Any crosswinds and it quickly disappears.

Palate: It hits with a burst of fruit flavor, with a syrupy, sweet flavor that is reminiscent of a Caribbean rum. Citrus comes through with lemon and orange notes. Oaky notes also jut through at points. The mouthfeel is thinner than I was expecting. The longer you drink, the more traditional Irish shortbread biscuit and pastry cereal notes come through. The combination of the fruit flavors and the shortbread flavors make this dessert in a glass – specially the fruit tart your aunt always brings to family parties.

Finish: Short, light finish that is quite citrusy with the lemon and orange peel lingering in the mouth. There is a touch of spice, but is defined by a restrained finish.

Final Thoughts: This is an interesting whiskey that definitely takes you outside of the traditional Irish Pot Still style. Dessert is the first word that comes to mind. But if a Glendronach 15 is a chocolate souffle, this really is a fruit tart with much lighter sweet flavors than a heavy sherried whiskey.

The Ex-Bourbon casks don’t seem to impart much vanilla or caramel flavors and instead at times I had to remind myself this wasn’t rum as it came off as such an intense sweet experience. Method and Madness Single Grain takes you on an unusual ride, but at points you wish it gave a bit more oomph. The nose struggles to excite, while the finish is short and ends abruptly an otherwise interesting ride.  

Score: 88

While I do enjoy this bottle as a unique experience, I don’t seem to be reaching for it often. I would likely reach for something else in this price range.